Here's How Brad Pitt Got Fighting Fit For 'Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood'

Brad Pitt has dominated the big screens for nearly 30 years. And for many of his roles, he's been forced to follow a tough fitness regime. At age 55, he shows no signs of slowing down.

Speaking to Men's Journal, stunt supervisor Zoë Bell and fighter coordinator Rob Alonzo explain how they worked with Pitt on the set of 'Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood' to make sure he was ready to tackle any fighting scenes that came his way.

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Bell, a former stunt actor, previously worked with Tarantino in the Kill Bill franchise and understood the efforts the critically acclaimed director demanded.

As part of the role, Pitt learned as much martial arts as he had time for to ensure the fight scenes were as authentic as possible.

“I didn’t want him just going through the motions,” Alonzo says.

“I knew that if Brad learned the principles of martial arts—like timing, spacial awareness, and range—he would be able to flow in the scenes much more naturally, like a real fighter would.”

At the start of every session, the pair worked on injury prevention and Pitt's flexibility using a dynamic warmup flow. Drawing from foundational martial arts positions, Alonzo labels the routine,“yoga for combat”.

“It’s more than a warmup or a stretch,” Alonzo continues.

“It was a way for him to prepare mentally, and it’s also great for conditioning. If you’re doing it right, you’re sweating by the end.”

In the film, Pitt plays Cliff Booth, a World War II veteran well-versed in knife work and close-quarters combat. As a result Alonzo concentrated on Filipino martial arts.

Alex PierottiA one-time third-grade try-scorer, Men's Health's Digital Content Editor, Alex Pierotti, is obsessed with two things: the beach and his footy team. When he’s not researching the latest studies, figuring out the latest style trends or snacking on cashews you'll find Alex cruising on his board through Bondi Beach